Vent device



Oct. 3, 1933. L. J. THOMPSON VVVVVVVV CE Aag J T/mm JW,

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 3, 1933 Nr' OFFICE 1,929481 VENT DEvICE y V, Leroy J. Thompson, Grand Rapids, Mich. V Application January, 21, 1933. Serial No. 652,952 13 claims. (01. 217- This application is related to my copending ap-' plication Serial No. 514,564, filed February 9, 1931, for vent devices for fermenting receptacles.

The objects of this invention are: 4

First, 'to provide a simple and effective vent device for use in fermentation.

Second, to provide such a device that can be easily installed in the bung of a keg or barrel and which will provide a water seal.

Third, to provide such a device in which there is a check valve to prevent drawing back of the water seal into the barrel or keg.

Fourth, to provide such -a device that may be molded of rubber or suitable composition material u and in which the check valve may be easily and cheaply constructed and installed to produce a unitary structure; r

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow;

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, .in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section of my improved 4 device taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section of the and check valve arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of a modified form'of my device. a r

The parts will be identified by their numerals of reference which are the same in all the views.

U -tube 1 is the body portion that is formed of molded rubber or any suitable composition material or wood. A suitable material illustrated in Fig. 4 is sawdust made into a plastic-mass with glue or rubber cement and molded or turned out ona lathe or the like; 2 is a stopper portion thereon for insertion in the hung' of akeg or barrel. 3 is the seal chamber in which water or a suitable fiuid 4 may be placed as shown in Fig. 1 to effect seal- 5 is a web extending into the seal chamber. The web here illustrated is substantially' radial and has its inner end 6 spaced from the bottom of the seal chamber 3. The body portion is notched as at '7 and a bore B runs from the notch through' the web opening into the seal' chamber at the inner end of the web. 9 is a bore substantially parallel to the bore 8 running :from the .notch '7 tothe V stopper portion 2 to provide a vent from the'inside. of the-keg.- 10 is a U-tube adapted to have'its legs 11 and 12 fitted in the bores 8 and 9 and to have its bight 13 fitted within the notch 7 so as to come below the end of the body portion 1 to pre ent is: i

vent injury to the tube. It is not necessary that the tube extend below the end of the body portion' 1, but it is 'desirable and advantageousg Associated with one leg of the tube 10 is a check valve construction thatis adapted to fit within one of the bores. This is shownas a' vented cap 14 fitting and` soldered over the leg 12 of the U-tube 10 so as to leave 'a chamber 15 in which a.

' ball 16 is loosely disposed to close the vent`17 in the cap 14 to prevent the fiuid 4 from being sucked into the cask when pressure within the cask is V reduced. At 18 is an overfiow vent for the seal chamber 3. This vent may be omitted if desired. Although I have shown a web through which the bore 8 extends, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the bores 8 and 9 can be in the body portion 1 without having any web formed extending into the seal' chamber, it being only necessary to have one bore extend 'through the stopper portion to the keg and the other 'bore 5 'through thebody portion to communicate with the seal chamber at a point below the desired water level in the chamber. s v

.In Fig. 4 Ishow a modified form of the device. 'The body '2 is "shown formed 'of a'sawdust and glue or rubber cement composition. A web 33 extends into the seal chamber having its top above the level of the liquid in the seal chamber. A bore 29 runs from the stopper portion 2 to the top of web 33 where it opens above the level of the fiuid `in the seal chamber, thus insuring against leakage of said fluid back to the barrel or keg. A U-tube 30 has oneleg 31' disposed in said bore 29 and therother leg 32 is disposed in the sealchamber and. opens therein. The tube is recurved slightly as at 34 and is 'cut on the biasto formanupwardly facing or sl'anting valve seat 35. 36 is' the valve body which is hinged or pivoted as at 37 to a web 38 on the tube. Gravityholds the valve closed.

My structure is especially adapted to'be made of molded rubber or other suitable plastic material. `A single operation is then necessary to form v practically the wholestructure while the U'-tube 10 with its simple check valve construction is then easily -installed 'and becomes a permanent part of the entire unit; It will be seen that a valve similar to that shown in Fig. 4 could be used in the other modification of my device.

Having: thus described my invention,'what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 4 l. A` vent device comprising a substantially cylindrical molded rubber body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, and an integral web extending substantially radially into said seal chamber and having its inner end spaced from the bottom thereof, said body portion havinga notch extending into said Web, and a bore from said notch to the inner end of said web and a second bore from said notch to and through said stopper portion, and a U- tube having a check valve associated therewith comprising a vented cap disposed on one leg of said l J-tubeand a' ball retained loosely between said cap and said leg, said U-tube having a leg fltted in each of said bores and its bight disposed in said notch. I

2. A vent device comprising a molded rubber body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, and. a web; extending into said seal chamber and having its inner end spaced from the bottom thereof, said' body por-v tion having a notch and a bore from said notch to the inner end of said web and a secondbore from said notch to and .through said stopper portion, ,and a ,U-tube having a check valve associated therewith 'comprising a vented cap dis-' posed on one leg of said U-tube and'a ball retained loosely between said cap and said leg, said U-tube having a leg fltted 'in each of said bores and its bight disposed in said notch. 3. A vent device comprising a body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, and a web extending into said seal chamber and having its inner end spacedufrom the bottom thereof, said body portion having' a notch and a 'bore from said notch to the inner end of said* web, and a second bore fromsaid notch to and through said stopper portion, and a U-tube havinga check valve associated therewith comprising a vented cap disposed on one leg of said U-tube anda ball retained loosely between said capwand said leg, said U-tube having a leg fltted in ,each of said bores and its bight disposed in said notch. 7

-4. A vent device comprising a molded'rubber body having a stopper portion at one' end, a seal chamber at the other end, and a.web extending into said seal chamber and having its inner end spaced from the bottom thereof, said body por-3 tion having a notch extending into said web and a bore from said notch to the inner end of said web and a second bore from said notch to and through said stopper portion, and a U-tube having a check valve associated therewith and having a leg fltted. in each ofsaid bores and its bight disposed in saidnotch. i 5

5. A vent device comprising a body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at' the other end, and 'a web extending substantially radially into said seal chamber and hav-j ing its inner end spaced from the'bottom thereof, said body .portionhaving a notch and a bore from said notch to thev innersend of'said web and a second bore from said notch to and through said stopper portion, and a `U-tube having' a check valve associated therewith and having a leg fltted in each of said bores. 6. A vent device comprising a molded rubber body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, said body'portion having a notch and a bore fromsaid' notch to said seal chamber and a second bore'from said notch j to and'through said stopper portion, and a U- tube having a check 'valve associated therewith comprising a vented cap disposed onv one leg of said U-tube and a ball retained loosely between said cap and said leg, said U-tube having a leg fitted in each of said bores and its bight disposed in said notch.

7. A Vent device comprising a body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, said body portion having a notch and a bore from said notch to said seal chamber and a second bore from said notch to and through said stopper portion, a U-tube having a check valve associated therewith comprising a vented cap disposed on one leg of said U-tube and a ball retained loosely between said cap and said leg, said U-tube having a leg fitted in each of said bores and its bight disposed in said notch. t 8. .A vent device comprising a body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, said body portion having a notch and "a bore from'said notch to said seal chamber and a having a bore to said seal chamber and a second bore' extending to and through said stopper portion, and a U-tube having a check valve associated, therewith 'comprising a vented cap disposed 'on one leg of said U-tube and a ball retained-loosely between said cap and said leg, said U-tubehaving a leg fitted in each of said bores. 10. A vent 'device comprising a body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, said body portion having a bore extending to said seal chamber and a second bore extending to and through'said stopper portion, and a U-tubehaving a check valve associated therewith comprising a vented cap disposed on one leg of said U-tube and a ball retained looselybetween said cap and saidleg, said U-tube having a leg fitted in each of said bores.

-11. A vent device 'comprising a body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, said body portion having a bore extending to said seal chamber and a second bore extending to and through said stopper portion and a `U-'tube*having a check valve associated therewith and' having a leg fltted in each of said bores.

12. A vent device comprising a molded rubber body having a stopper'portion at'one end, a seal chamber at the* other end, and a Web extending into said seal chamber and having its inner end spaced from 'the bottom thereof, said body portion havinga notch and a bore from said notch to the inner end of said web and a second bore 'from said notch to and through said stopper portion, and a U-tube having a leg fitted in each of said bores and its bight disposed in said notch.

13..A vent device comprising a body having a stopper portion at one end, a seal chamber at the other end, said body portion having a notch and a borefrom said notch to said 'seal chamber and a second bore from. said notch to and through said stopper portion, and a U-tube having a leg fltted in each of said bores and its bight disposed in saidnotch. r

' 'LEROY J THOMPSON. 

